After a 72-hour journey, the Tanzania group has arrived in Kitongo. Trip leader, Toby Emerson shares the groups welcoming arrival and first day at Mainsprings.
Our hearty group of travelers left Deerfield Academy at 1:30PM on Sunday, March 4, and arrived on the campus of Mainsprings at 1:00 AM on Wednesday, March 6. We are grateful to our hosts for their generosity – a meal awaited us after our final bus ride to campus, and we were welcomed by the whole community after a short night’s sleep. In making my 4th trip back to the Mainspring campus, I feel lucky to be traveling with Kate Parker and Conrad Pitcher again, but also, I am consistently amazed by the willingness of our hosts to welcome us into their homes during our two week visit.
Our first day included a tour of the amazing permaculture program that provides food, flowering plants and shade for this verdant campus along Lake Victoria. We had our first group discussion of African history, exploring the meaning and symbolism of Jomo Kenyata’s fable “The Gentlemen of the Jungle.” We spent the evening reading books, singing prayers, and sharing a meal with the 40 residents of the Girl’s home. By the time we left for the evening, we had a new set of best friends eager to play and learn together in the week to come.
